5215 Fire Protection Engineer

Clerically amended on 1/21/2026 to update Certification Rule Established in 1866, the San Francisco Fire Department is rich in tradition and history. From the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 to the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989, the Department has grown to meet the many challenges along the way. Today, the San Francisco Fire Department serves an estimated 1.5 million people, providing fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical services to the residents, visitors and workers within San Francisco's 49 square miles. Application Opening: July 2, 2025 to Continuous Deadline to apply for this hiring cyle is Friday, January 9, 2026  Compensation Range: $163,644-198,900 Annually  Recruitment ID: C00357 Exam Analyst: Deana Kwan  [email protected] Under general direction, performs challenging and responsible professional engineering review and inspection work in the specialized field of fire prevention and safety, and advises fire inspection personnel engaged in fire prevention work. 5215 Fire Protection Engineer is distinguished from classes 6331 Building Inspector, 6333 Senior Building Inspector, 6334 Chief Building Inspector, 6281 Fire Safety Inspector II, and class H4 Inspector, Fire Department in that the former is a licensed professional engineer specializing in fire protection and safety standards and procedures and possesses the expertise to inspect and test fire protection and suppression systems. EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list. 1. Reviews fire protection plans and systems, equivalency proposals, permit applications, subdivision and parcel maps, etc., to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and standards; reviews site permits, architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans and specifications for code compliance; ensures that fire code provisions are included where hazardous processes and/or dangerous chemicals or radioactive materials are involved; and submits recommendations to the Fire Marshal for approval or disapproval of plans or specifications. 2. Advises and provides training to Fire Department personnel regarding applicable codes, technical engineering aspects of fire prevention work, plan review, and technical research; prepares technical documents as appropriate; and assists the Chief, Division of Fire Prevention and Investigation (Fire Marshal) in the training of Fire Department Personnel. 3. Inspects and witnesses acceptance tests for fire protection systems; and participates in inspections of buildings and other structures periodically during the course of construction to ensure compliance with approved fire protection plans and testing procedures. 4. Interacts with members of the public (contractors, architects, engineers, building mangers, and owners, etc.) and other government agencies regarding fire code, standard, and ordinance issues; gives lectures and arranges life-safety demonstrations; and represents the Fire Department on fire code and technical issues as necessary. 5. Reviews codes, ordinances, and fire protection standards from other jurisdictions for possible local applications; assists in the development of new codes and ordinances; assists in the revision of codes, ordinances, standards, and Fire Department Administrative Bulletins; and reviews new products, listings, materials, fire protection systems and equipment for use in local fire prevention applications. 6. Provides professional, technical guidance and assistance to the department in the design, testing, and potential of proposed new fire-fighting apparatus and equipment as well as fire-retardant materials. 7. Investigates sites of fires and makes determinations regarding possible structural, mechanical, alarm, fire extinguishing, or other safety system failures; prepares reports as required. 8. Evaluates performance-based analysis to determine whether proposed fire protection systems are acceptable with regard to the intent of codes, standards, and ordinances; evaluates conditions as necessary to ensure that a proposed performance-based design is acceptable; communicates acceptability of performance-based designs to Fire Department officials; and performs and analyzes results of hydraulic water flow tests. 9. May act for the Senior Mechanical Engineer in his/her absence. These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement. Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree in fire protection, mechanical, electrical, chemical, or civil engineering, or a related engineering field, from an accredited college or university. Experience: Two (2) years of professional experience in fire protection analysis including building design, specification writing, construction inspection, and plan review (including reading and interpreting architectural plans, computer fire modeling, and review of fire protection and life safety systems such as sprinkler and fire pump systems, smoke removal systems, fire resistive construction, means of egress, etc.) License and Certification: 1. A valid California Driver License. 2. Possession of a valid Fire Protection Engineer license issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. Substitution: A degree in fire protection engineering from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience. A valid registration as a Fire Protection Engineer from another state (which is transferable to the State of California) may substitute for the required Fire Protection Engineer li